Minnesota Vikings: Adrian Peterson non-factor for out-of-sync offense

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is hit by Carolina's Josh Thomas, left, and Greg Hardy during the first quarter. (Pioneer Press: Simon Guerra)

Adrian Peterson never wavered about his decision to play Sunday, even after learning his 2-year-old son had died Friday in South Dakota of injuries suffered from alleged child abuse.

The Vikings' star running back said he prayed for perseverance and was able to compartmentalize another personal tragedy and go to work for his teammates in what ultimately became an ugly 35-10 loss to the Carolina Panthers at the Metrodome.

"No, I was set on it," Peterson said when asked whether he had second thoughts about playing. "I just look at things, and I don't ask people to understand my mind-set and how I think. Anything bad, I try to take good from it. That's the way I approach life in all situations. I never thought about not playing. It was all about just going out there and praying that I have the strength to get through and help my team. That was my focus."

Peterson politely but firmly deflected a question about his relationship to the child, whom he visited Thursday at a Sioux Falls hospital after being excused from the team when he learned about the alleged assault Wednesday night.

"Can we focus on football? I'm not really going to get into details about that," he said. "We just got blown out by (25) points, so let's focus on football and what the Minnesota Vikings can do to get better."

Joseph Patterson, 27, the boyfriend of the child's mother, is jailed on charges of aggravated assault and battery of an infant and could face additional charges, according to Sioux Falls police.

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"It was tough," Peterson said. "It's a crazy situation. Any time you lose a child, no matter the circumstances, it hurts. I can't describe it. I've got a good supporting cast surrounding me. I'll be good."

Peterson rushed 10 times for a season-low 62 yards, half of which he gained on a single third-quarter carry. He was a non-factor in an offense that failed to generate any momentum against a Panthers defense that came at Peterson hot and heavy.

"We were definitely out of sync," he said.

"We didn't play Minnesota football today, either side. We just seemed flat. We got behind the 8-ball early, and it kind of took us out of our game plan. We just didn't get it done."

Safety Jamarca Sanford, one of the reigning MVP's closest friends on the Vikings, said Peterson was quieter and more focused in the locker room before the game.

"He was in his zone," Sanford said. "I'm pretty sure he had a lot on his mind. For him just to play, that was enough. You've got to be a strong man to come out and do that. Just being out there showed the team how strong he is as an individual."

Peterson's life has been defined by adversity and personal loss.

When he was 7, he watched his older brother, Brian, die when the bicycle he was riding was struck by a drunken driver. During most of his teenage years, Peterson's father was serving time in prison for laundering drug money.

And the night before he worked out at the 2007 scouting combine, Peterson's half-brother was fatally shot near the family home in Texas.

"My brother passed the night before the combine, and I decided to go through with it," he wrote. "The same reason why I will play this week. You may ask why? God wants good to come from it. We mourn and grieve, but heaven had the baddest welcoming party for my son. That knowledge gives me peace.

"I'm still hurt and feel the pain of life, but I'm able to function because of the peace and joy of knowing my loved ones are in a much better place."